Tuesday, 19 November 2013

The lovely Katherine from the design team shared a video of a mixed media page in the week and there is a little trend at the moment for making such pages.I thought I'd share a page I did for the ATDML gallery a while ago using Prima resist canvas and Prima papers and products. it's not technically mixed media but its messy stencilly and stampy !

Sunday, 17 November 2013

Back after a long absence is my cards on Sunday spot. I sometimes forget, in my quest to scrap all my photos, how enjoyable it is to sit an make cards.

Last weekend I headed over to one of my favourite events of the year - Tina, a regular at our retreats, holds a craft day 2 or 3 times a year with card making inspiration and challenges and the option to do whatever you like craft wise.

One of the challenges was to use a certain piece of paper as the basis for a card. It was so pretty and reminded me a lot of some of the Prima lines we have had in stock and also some of the Marion Smith designs papers which are due in right about NOW!

I decided to make two cards with the pretty background paper and it really didn't take uch foraging around in my stash to find appropriate "go with its!"

With the addition of some stamping, a bit of sparkly bling and a couple of stickers and punched shapes my two cards were finished and I thoroughly enjoyed making them.

I actually did these when I was having a lapse in mojo for the layouts I had taken and once I had finished the cards I went on to make 3 layouts so maybe they were the kick start I needed!

Tuesday, 12 November 2013

I love the Teresa Collins Memorabilia range of papers, I've made loads of pages with them and still love the papers and colours, so for those who feel the same as me our gallery this month is going to packed with Teresa Collins. Memorabilia is great because the colours work well with the male side of the family, but equally well with girls and also any occasion as there is not theme. It has some very on trend Chalkboard papers, with frames and arrows…so elegant and trendy, all in one.

I started my page with one of the woodgrain sheets by Savanna, and then added some tea dye distress ink on a sponge pad to bring out some of the lovely grain this paper has and it is just a little different to having a completely neutral background. I layered up lots of pieces of paper from the Memorabilia range, distressing the edges and then inking them with tea dye distress ink too, to keep it all consistent. I cut out a journal card and then some of the shapes from the snippets sheet such as the arrow and word 'here' and used these as little embellishments around my photo. The final touches included a couple of prima flowers - that go really well with the tea dye distress ink, and a sprinkling of sequins (the non-messy version of paint) with a pocket behind the picture for all my journalling.

Also for anyone that hasn't noticed ATDML now have our own Facebook group (in the sidebar near the bottom or search for ATDML # Create) with lots of inspiration and chat….and Mel is offering up a prize with some of the Optimist papers by Prima - if you love chalkboard you will love these - have a look at Karen's post. The competition ends on the 13th November at 6pm, so it would be lovely to have you join us on Facebook too.

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Whilst at the recent retreat, I happened across the new Prima "The Optimist"range and, as always with Prima products, instantly feel in love with it. I was quite conservative with my purchasing, only buying a selection of the papers, the chipboard shapes and wood icons. I could quite easily have taken every item they had in stock home - I loved it so much. I was also seduced by Prima's stunning bark butterflies!

Yesterday, whilst at Enfield Scrapmates crop, I set myself the challenge of making a layout or two with my little bundle of gorgeousness. I quite often buy papers and can't bring myself to use them until I find another new favourite - that's me fickle by nature.

Gracia still takes dance classes twice a week, even though she is away at University studying a subject far removed from dance, and since the age of 2 and a half ballet has been one of her greatest loves.

So these are the end result, so far.

The story of how Gracia blagged a new pair of expensive pointe shoes from her Dad (note: Mum was at the retreat otherwise I suspect it would have been mum she blagged them off)

and one of her trying on her white and black swan outfits.

I have trained her well, she knows it is imperative that she takes photos at every opportunity and sends them to me. She truly is the daughter of a scrapbooker.

Oh dear! After going onto ATDML to find the link for this collection, I can feel another purchase looming ;0)

Friday, 1 November 2013

Back again with another photography challenge which I may follow up with a scrapping challenge towards the end of the month too - for those of you that would like to join in. So this month we are going to stick with seven items to find and photograph, this to make it achievable with the shorter days and longer nights, but it could be an ideal time to have a play with your camera or phone apps to try and grab some interesting nighttime shots, especially of fire or fireworks. So what are you waiting for?

NOVEMBER Photography Scavenger Hunt

Fire/Firework

A reflection

Home comforts

View from a window

Sign of the Season

Favourite drink

Something you are thankful for

So from now until the end of the month see how creative you can get photographing your 7 items and do pop back here, leave us a comment and share your favourites. Alternatively you can share them on our new Facebook group ATDML #Create where there will be an album for sharing your November challenge photographs. Happy hunting and be sure to pop back in a few days a view some of your October photographs!